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The end is nigh

With just one week to go to the Triangle Community Garden Open Day/weekend, we've been busy putting the finishing touches to the exhibits.

Sue F brought these lovely roses to the meeting this morning.

Pat brought two poppies (pattern from Chelsea Flower Show Australian exhibit). Large poppy by honorary member, Nuala (visiting from Bavaria), small poppy by Pat.

Work will continue for the next 7 days, but the end is in sight,

Today saw the publication of the Hitchin Festival Programme.


The Festival runs from Saturday 2nd July, to theSunday, 24th.

Hitchin Stitchin' will be exhibiting in St Mary's Churchyard throughout the Festival

Art or Craft

or both?

 International Yarnbombing Day is June 11 and we are getting ready to yarn bomb the Triangle Garden during its Open Weekend. 

Working on more exhibits for the tarn bomb.











Today, we discussed whether yarn bombing was an art or a craft? Is it a form of street art or public art? It's a complex topic that cannot be explained in a few words. Words that are important to the debate are

• public
• street
• permission
• collaboration
• interactive

We came to no conclusions but recognised that the group's involvement with the Triangle Garden and the Hitchin Festival includes the use of all those words. This debate goes on, as does the one about whether yarn bombers, as street artists, should, like Banksy, remain anonymous and refuse to be photographed while working,

Upcoming events

Members of Hitchin Stitchin' are getting ready for this year's Festiwool

Three Counties Radio broadcast  interviewed Daphne and Phillipa on 4th November.

Before that, some members are having an away-weekend, at the Belstead Brook Hotel, where we will endure fine food and wine, and pampering in the spa.

In the news again

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Today's Comet had a two page spread on our contribution to the Hitchin Festival.

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The main news item focused on the vandalism done to one of the exhibits.

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It's back!


This morning, I was working on the database at the British Schools' Museum and decided to go and have a look to see if everything was still there and in good condition. Clare's litter campaign was back in its rightful place, beside the river, instead of in it.

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The Nursery Rhyme tree

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and banner were still intact

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as were  the butterflies

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As I made my way past the Festiwool tree, I spotted something

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which was joined by a second 'something'.


It is nice to see that our installation has no adverse effect on the local fauna.

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Just as the Fountain in the river  the Hiz alongside St Mary's, commemorates the life of Sir Ian Dixon,, so our project commemorates the church's medieval roots with the wool industry,

Hitchin Festival

Art Installation

Thanks to the team that worked through the day Yesterday, to set up the installation in St Mary'svChurchyard.

Health and Safety at knitting was much in evidence












It attracted a lot of attention during the day. Hopefully,all the photos taken by people walking through the churchyard will hit social media and bring more people in to the Festival.

Knitting installation. All done with plastic bags.

Come and sit and knit under a tree,

Crochet - granny squares.

The Nursery Ryhme tree. Mary, Mary, quite contrary.

With silver bells, cockle shells, and lollipops.

Fruit tree - oranges and lemons (and cherries and apples)

Hickory, Dickory, Dock.

Festival of wool.

Picking pompoms.

This way to St Mary's - a medieval wool church.

The local solicitor's bench.

Lollipop tree.

Flowers in the sun.

In the news again

after a very successful Festiwool event

For me, the highlight of the event was the fashion show. This was in two parts. Students and Super Model Daphne Selfe modelled vintage clothing from designers such as Jasper Conran and Jaeger. One student wore a woolen jacket designed for Steve McQueen.

Everyone worked extremely hard to produce a successful event. Positive feeback from visitors started to pour in on Ravelry even before the event was over, all calling for a repeat next year. Exhibitors were especially pleased with the fabulous venue and the helpful, friendly atmosphere.

Congratulations to Philippa, Hitchin Stitchin' volunteers and Exhibitors, and the support team.

A view from the other side of the stall

The New Atrium under construction

MWNN drove me to the venue - a wonderful re-build of the college building that had been damaged by fire some years ago.

There were lots of go'fers on hand to help exhibitors unload the contents of their stalls.

Festiwool. began early for Posh Knits, but not as early as the organising team who had spent most of Saturday setting up the event and were in place before the doors opened.

At 7.30am Exhibitors began to arrive. There were lots of support people on hand to help.

Sue Hayler and I have had lots of practice setting up, having 'done' the huge Hatfield Craft Fair for the past two years. In no time at all, our stall was ready.

We shared our table with another Hitchin Stitchin member.

April had knitted lots of pretty booties that atracted much atention and praise. By the end of the day, she had some commissions for booties for soon-to-be-new-arrivals.

At 10.30am, the Atrium doors opened and visitors started to arrive.

There were several members of Hitchin

Stitchin' selling
their wares.

For me, the highlight of the event was the fashion show. This was in two parts. Students and Super Model Daphne Selfe modelled vintage clothing from designers such as Jasper Conran and Jaeger. One student wore a woolen jacket designed for Steve McQueen.

Daphne Selfe looked graceful and stylish in all the outfits she modelled.

Then there was a display of re-constructed garments from the art and design department's students.

The stall next to Posh Knits was Turned on the Cut. A fellow-narrowboater, a marine engineer who lost his job when he lost his eye to cancer. He and his wife live aboard a narrowboat. During the winter months, he makes drop-spindles and other items in his 'shed'.

They'd travelled down from Nantwich (not in the boat) the previous evening. Noel and I swapped stories of life aboard and discussed the difficulties of cruising in France.

It  became clear to us that Posh Knits was not going to do much business. Most of the customers were fellow-knitters, so there was very little demand for ready-made goods.

We did sell a few items and Sue swapped a couple of shawls for goods from other stallholders.








Posh Knits will be at Gosmore Ladies' Christmas Fair, the Bull, on Tuesday evening with the remainder of our items for sale.

Everyone worked extremely hard to produce a successful event. Positive feeback from visitors started to pour in even before the event was over. Congratulations to the organisers and the support team

Setting up

Today was set-up day for Living Crafts, Hatfield.

This year, we put more effort into displaying items and less into posters on the boards. I think it's very effective.

With six members of Hitchin Stitchin' giving a helping hand this year - Angela, April, Helen, Pat, Phillipa, and Sue -  set-up went smoothly and was complete by 1pm.

Hitchin Stitchin' members will be exhibiting at Living Crafts, and giving information about our November festival from tomorrow morning until Sunday afternoon.